DEFRA awards £18.3m NBC quality assurance contract to Merrick and Company
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has appointed Merrick and Company to deliver commissioning, verification and validation services across the National Biosafety Centre's Weybridge expansion programme.
Written with data automation, every figure verified against the official notice · · 1 min read
DEFRA has awarded a £18.3m contract to Merrick and Company for commissioning, verification and validation services supporting the National Biosafety Centre's expansion. Work will focus on the Science Hubs at Weybridge, with secondary support for other NBC buildings. The contract was procured through the Crown Commercial Services DPS RM6242.
Key facts
buyer
DEFRA
value
£18.3m
supplier
MERRICK AND COMPANY
published
10 June 2026
procedure or type
Competitive Award Procedure under Crown Commercial Services DPS RM6242
DEFRA has awarded Merrick and Company an £18.3m contract to provide commissioning, verification and validation services to the National Biosafety Centre Programme. The appointment centres on the Science Hubs, with supporting work across other Weybridge projects including Lab Science Building B.
The procurement was conducted under the Competitive Award Procedure using Crown Commercial Services' DPS RM6242 Construction Professional Services framework. A dynamic purchasing system allows buyers to call off specialist suppliers without running a fresh tender each time, reducing procurement time for follow-on work.
The contract award was published on 10 June 2026. The preceding tender stage closed on 23 March 2026.